SNL’s finest and worst musical friends of its fiftieth season : NPR

For a present that is by no means been shy about celebrating itself, Saturday Evening Reside was sure to lean arduous into its fiftieth season. However the outcomes have been as blended as ever — an inclination that prolonged to the season’s musical friends, who shaped an eclectic cocktail of large chart-toppers (Unhealthy Bunny, Morgan Wallen, Girl Gaga), breakout stars (Chappell Roan, Benson Boone, Shaboozey), fading legacy acts (Arcade Hearth, Coldplay), transcendent legacy acts (Stevie Nicks) and, after all, ever-effortful Timothée Chalamet, campaigning arduous for an Oscar that by no means got here.

The SNL stage is all the time a crapshoot — some acts are higher than others at making a nondescript area thrilling, to say nothing of the present’s eternally shaky sound mixes — which makes rating every season’s musical friends an journey. However, as a result of rating the SNL musical friends for seven straight years signifies that subsequent lists are required by regulation, rank them we should.

For the eighth consecutive 12 months (this is 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018), we have wrangled the good, the middling and the actually misbegotten from SNL‘s common season into one digestible record. As all the time, we have included hyperlinks for those which can be nonetheless streaming on YouTube, however in the event you actually need to see for your self, every of those units continues to be streaming on Peacock, whether or not or not Morgan Wallen desires them to be.

20. Arcade Hearth, “Pink Elephant” and “12 months of the Snake” (5/10/25)

SNL‘s bookers are usually good at mixing main chart-toppers, massive names in nation and hip-hop, hall-of-famers and artists who at the very least seem to be they is likely to be the following massive factor. It would be a tricky combine to grasp — there are solely 20 slots to fill in a given season — even when they did not insist on reserving sure past-their-prime legacy acts each single time they launch a brand new album.

Arcade Hearth has been on a downward trajectory for ages now, with its final decade’s value of albums producing solely sporadic highlights — and that was earlier than singer Win Butler was accused of widespread sexual abuse. But SNL nonetheless booked the band, which had launched a flaccid new document known as Pink Elephant only a day earlier, for the penultimate episode of its fiftieth season.

When you’re searching for insights as to why, you will not discover them within the band’s joyless, by-the-numbers efficiency of two songs from Pink Elephant. Butler himself actually dedicated to the bit, full with showy costumery and a pointlessly smashed guitar. However his spouse and co-bandleader, Régine Chassagne, spent most of “Pink Elephant” and “12 months of the Snake” trying as if she’d simply pushed previous an open sewer. This was a full banquet of crummy vibes, with out even respectable songs to lighten the temper.

19. Coldplay, “All My Love” and “We Pray (feat. Elyanna & Tini)” (10/5/24)

Coldplay has performed SNL eight occasions relationship again to 2001, with a characteristically Coldplay-esque vary of outcomes. In 2019, the band’s agreeable bombast was nonetheless enjoying nicely — Chris Martin even returned for a candy solo encore late in that COVID-shortened season — whereas 2023’s corny, Up With Folks-esque calamity would have made a good SNL parody had the band been in on the joke.

Sadly, this one’s one other leaden dud. When you watched “All My Love” stay and managed to remain awake for “We Pray,” then it is best to move alongside your commerce secrets and techniques to the nation’s long-haul truckers, as a result of that music is a weapons-grade snooze, with Martin sounding uncharacteristically pitchy in addition. Extra eventful by default, “We Pray” discovered Martin joined by two of the only’s many visitor vocalists — Elyanna and Tini, every barely audible early on — as they did their finest to brighten up one more grim slab of by-the-numbers inspirecore.

18. Morgan Wallen, “I am the Drawback” and “Simply in Case” (3/29/25)

An enormous aspect of those SNL music rankings revolves round sheer effort; across the easy concept that, given a grand alternative to succeed in tens of millions, an artist should discover each alternative to do one thing transcendent, eye-opening and all-around thrilling. Which locations nation famous person Morgan Wallen at an obstacle, as a result of he so visibly does not need to be there. He gave a listless, detached efficiency in 2020, and upon his return, he did not even stick round by means of the closing credit, sauntering offstage abruptly earlier than posting “Get me to God’s nation” — producing an instantaneous meme within the course of — on Instagram.

The entire thing simply appeared so… grudging, throughout, so why trouble within the first place? SNL solely booked him as a result of he is nation’s greatest star; Wallen solely confirmed up as a result of he is received an album, and an countless parade of singles, to advertise. However the ensuing performances are simply… bare-minimum box-checking, but once more. In each “I am the Drawback” and “Simply in Case,” his vocals improved on his 2020 efficiency; he is a effective singer, and “Simply in Case” is among the higher songs on his new album. However the subsequent time SNL comes calling, we would all be higher off if Wallen opted to remain in God’s nation.

17. Elton John & Brandi Carlile, “Little Richard’s Bible” and “Who Believes in Angels?” (4/5/25)

Elton John’s well-deserved victory lap has been occurring for roughly a era, most just lately culminating in an affectionate documentary about his life. That movie spawned his and Brandi Carlile’s Oscar-nominated music “By no means Too Late,” and now the pair have a full album to their title, titled Who Believes in Angels? And, as a lot goodwill as these two have generated of their lengthy and ceaselessly sensible careers — usually talking, it is all the time a deal with to come across both of them — the document does not land inside a thousand miles of both artist’s finest work.

The identical holds true of their joint SNL look, which pairs the rollicking “Little Richard’s Bible” (a muddily blended cacophony) with the album’s title observe (a cloying, forgettable gradual burn that coasts on sentiment). John and Carlile have each earned the best to get by on their likability and legacies, however neither music does them justice.

16. Charli xcx, “360” and “Sympathy Is a Knife” (11/16/24)

Brat Summer season prolonged nicely into November final 12 months, as Charli xcx — every week faraway from receiving a bundle of Grammy nominations — took the SNL stage for a pair of high-energy solo performances. However the phrase “solo” is vital right here; the singer carried out each “360” and “Sympathy Is a Knife” in entrance of easy backgrounds (one Brat inexperienced, the opposite studying “PARTY GIRL”) with solely a backing observe to help her.

The singer’s personal vocals sounded effective, and he or she dedicated loads of movement and power to the bit. However the manufacturing itself felt like a janky afterthought; even the backdrops had literal seams displaying. Provided that Charli was pulling double-duty as SNL‘s host, it made sense to not ask for an excessive amount of exertion. However she exerted herself lots! It was the manufacturing workforce that appeared to be taking the night time off.

15. Shaboozey, “Good Information” and “A Bar Track (Tipsy)” (12/7/24)

Final 12 months will probably be endlessly remembered for bringing us the messy-but-carefree joys of Brat Summer season. However we’re nonetheless dwelling within the Shaboozey Epoch, as “A Bar Track (Tipsy)” has stayed entrenched at or close to the highest of the pop charts for greater than a 12 months. So it is solely pure that the affable nation star would make his SNL debut as 2024 wound down — and shut out his look with the music he’ll be performing as an encore lengthy after most of our ashes are scattered to the wind.

By December, Shaboozey was making an attempt to usher in a post-“Bar Track” period — more durable than it sounds — with a single known as “Good Information,” which nonetheless hasn’t surpassed the decrease reaches of the Billboard Sizzling 100’s prime 40. And there are two good causes for that: 1) It is arduous to get individuals to note your new music after they’re nonetheless flogging your outdated one; and a pair of) “Good Information” simply is not that eventful, particularly in comparison with its flashier counterpart.

The SNL therapy does not work wonders for both music: “Good Information” is a bit too gradual and rendered with little flash, whereas “A Bar Track” seems like a ragged afterthought. Shaboozey himself stays a ball of simple, low-key charisma, however each performances might have used a jolt.

14. Jelly Roll, “Liar” and “Successful Streak” (9/28/24)

A rapper turned nation star with a strong life story, Jelly Roll has been a rootable presence since his business breakthrough in 2022. However he is by no means been a refined or polished singer; like his fellow face-tattooed belter Teddy Swims, he tends to function most comfortably at maximal quantity whether or not or not the music in query requires it.

Jelly Roll kicks off the season with two songs from final 12 months’s Fantastically Damaged, as he, his full band and a decent-sized choir pack into the boxy confines of Studio 8H. It is a solid-but-unspectacular displaying, diminished by a poor sound combine and drab staging, but elevated, significantly in “Liar,” by the singer’s bountiful enthusiasm.

13. Hozier, “Too Candy” and “Fairytale of New York” (12/21/24)

Final 12 months, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier loved an enormous and well-deserved resurgence with “Too Candy,” which — whereas removed from his finest music — returned him to ubiquity a decade after “Take Me to Church.” On the SNL stage, he took a modest victory lap, providing up an easy, so-so rendering of “Too Candy” that did not trouble with modifications to the stage or the music.

Considerably higher was Hozier’s cowl of The Pogues‘ 1987 basic “Fairytale of New York” — one of the vital scuffed-up antidotes to vacation treacle ever recorded — which showcased one other, darker facet of the singer whereas letting his Irish brogue shine. (It actually took a small choir to interchange the late, nice Kirsty MacColl.)

12. Tate McRae, “Sports activities Automobile” and “Pricey God” (3/1/25)

As a dancer, Tate McRae is famend for pairing her pop songs with intense choreography, as befitting her standing as a former finalist on So You Suppose You Can Dance. As a singer, she’s famend for… the aforementioned choreography. (And, within the case of “Sports activities Automobile,” for conjuring the spirit of Annie Murphy’s “A Little Bit Alexis,” from Schitt’s Creek.)

Nonetheless, what McRae’s SNL efficiency of “Sports activities Automobile” lacked in vocal finesse or energy — she opted out of the primary refrain completely, leaving it to a hard-working backing observe — it features in sheer exertion, as she and a small fleet of dancers bounded, bended and gyrated atop an enormous stack of metallic chairs. However their exertion ended on the conclusion of “Sports activities Automobile,” as “Pricey God” stayed nonetheless and stultifying, whereas the chairs hovered pointlessly within the background.

11. Timothée Chalamet, “Outlaw Blues”https://www.npr.org/”Three Angels” and “Tomorrow Is a Lengthy Time” (1/25/25)

On one hand, having Timothée Chalamet carry out Bob Dylan songs on SNL — as a part of a sturdy and finally futile marketing campaign to win an Oscar for A Full Unknown — was a splendidly bizarre and gutsy transfer to try in an episode he was already internet hosting. And, to his credit score, Chalamet (backed by, amongst others, James Blake) doubled down on the bizarre gutsiness by reaching deep into Dylan’s catalog for lesser-known songs when he might’ve caught to the classics. It was an audacious, finally admirable stunt.

It was additionally, at its core, a well-known actor fronting a canopy band to marketing campaign for an Oscar. “Outlaw Blues” had essentially the most fireplace in its stomach, “Three Angels” was largely spoken-word — sounding considerably extra like Chalamet than Dylan — and “Tomorrow Is a Lengthy Time” unleashed an unplugged ramble. All three have been competent sufficient, however they did not fairly cohere into greater than an amusing curiosity.

10. Gracie Abrams, “That is So True” and “I Love You, I am Sorry” (12/14/24)

It could be oversimplifying Gracie Abrams’ music to explain it as a solution to the query, “What if Taylor Swift?” However there isn’t any denying that Swift’s fingerprints are throughout Abrams’ profession: in her vocal mannerisms, in her diaristic and inquisitive songwriting, even in her tour schedule. (Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter and Benson Boone have all demonstrated that the surest path to pop stardom within the 2020s includes opening for Swift on the Eras Tour.)

That is all a preamble to an acknowledgement that Abrams’ completely pretty SNL debut was ably rendered all through: She was backed by a crack band, the staging was elegant however not overwrought, and her vocal — significantly in “That is So True” — stayed on level. Nonetheless, she performed it secure right here, and Abrams by no means transcended the shadow of her biggest affect. She’s the vp of pop.

9. Stevie Nicks, “The Lighthouse” and “Fringe of Seventeen” (10/12/24)

Give the SNL bookers credit score for a intelligent little bit of counter-programming. In an episode hosted by Ariana Grande — the last word try-hard theater child, on the peak of Depraved‘s countless promotional cycle, 5 months faraway from a brand new album — the present handed the musical-guest slot over to the good and good Stevie Nicks, who’d simply launched a protest music known as “The Lighthouse.” Grande had simply carried out new songs on SNL earlier in 2024, so why not cede the stage to a 76-year-old legend with fireplace in her stomach?

That belly-fire infused each of Nicks’ performances. The singer’s voice has diminished some with age — and, as you would possibly count on, the all-time basic “Fringe of Seventeen” vastly outshines “The Lighthouse” from a songwriting standpoint — whereas the sound combine did her no favors, particularly early on. Nonetheless, it is a pleasure to look at Nicks command the stage as successfully as she did right here.

8. Lizzo, “Love in Actual Life”https://www.npr.org/”Nonetheless Unhealthy” and “Do not Make Me Love You” (4/12/25)

After the dual successes of 2019’s Cuz I Love You and 2022’s Particular, Lizzo stands at a crossroads in her profession. Lawsuits from a number of of her dancers helped derail her Emmy-winning stint in actuality TV, whereas the brand new songs she’s unveiled this 12 months — within the run-up to a forthcoming album, to be titled Love in Actual Life — have urged an artist making an attempt on a number of identities without delay.

“A number of identities without delay” kind of sums up her return to the SNL stage following her triumphant appearances in 2019 and 2022. After opening with the rock riffage — and uncharacteristically shaky vocals — of “Love in Actual Life,” Lizzo segued to the acquainted, catch-phrase-driven swagger of “Nonetheless Unhealthy,” which deployed a small military of dancers. Then, for her nearer, she unveiled the world premiere of “Do not Make Me Love You,” which sounded for all of the world just like the debut of her Pointer Sisters period.

The cumulative impression was of an artist in transition — knocked off steadiness by controversies however nonetheless accountable for her abilities. Resilience is her model, and it confirmed because the night time progressed past this set’s wobbly begin.

7. Mk.gee, “Rockman” and “Alesis” (11/9/24)

An thrilling and progressive guitarist, bedroom-pop star and collaborator with the likes of Bon Iver and Omar Apollo, Mk.gee would not appear to be fairly prepared for the SNL highlight. However he did reduce an intriguing — and often ominously backlit — determine on its stage, as he carried out a deep reduce from 2024’s Two Star & the Dream Police (“Alesis”) and “Rockman,” which had come out as a freestanding single three weeks previous to this efficiency.

Punctuating his uncooked vocals with jagged yelps and jarring bursts of guitar noise, Mk.gee appeared like nobody else who carried out in SNL‘s fiftieth season. However he did not appear completely snug, both. He largely stood nonetheless all through raggedly compelling songs that did not all the time jell all the best way — that’s, till he reached the tip of “Alesis” and the guitar thunder turned too gnarly and majestic to withstand.

6. Billie Eilish, “Birds of a Feather” and “Wildflower” (10/19/24)

Billie Eilish has solely been a nationwide determine since 2019, but the singer has already appeared as an SNL musical visitor 4 occasions — a sign of each her pop-cultural ubiquity (she’s a two-time Oscar winner at 23!) and her willingness to make use of late-night phases in enjoyable and progressive methods. And, whereas she’s by no means topped the wild, Fred Astaire-inspired optical phantasm she pulled off in her 2019 SNL debut, she got here shut throughout her efficiency of “Birds of a Feather.”

Shot from beneath what gave the impression to be some form of glass dice (the thriller is a part of the enjoyable!) as her brother Finneas performed guitar close by, Eilish reduce a swaggering presence in opposition to photos of a bright-blue, partly cloudy sky — an ideal visible companion to 2024’s airiest smash. “Wildflower” felt much less eventful, because the singer shifted into languid-ballad mode in entrance of a darker, extra muted, deep-blue backdrop. However she’s not one for mailing it in, and he or she wasn’t about to start out right here.

5. Benson Boone, “Sorry I am Right here for Somebody Else” and “Mystical Magical” (5/3/25)

Benson Boone seems like a throwback to the heyday of American Idol, from his alliterative title — it is giving “Bo Bice” — to his glammy, theater-kid vibe. (He even auditioned for the present in 2021, however dropped out early within the competitors to concentrate on his personal music.) However let’s be actual right here: Between his elastic voice and his stage gymnastics, this man would have completely dominated American Idol. Had he been round to compete on one of many present’s early seasons, his fan military would have made the Claymates appear like passive observers.

Fortunately for Boone, his SNL debut landed far sufficient from the discharge of his signature hit — “Lovely Issues,” in his case — that he was capable of forgo it completely. As a substitute, he received to point out off two songs from a brand new album known as American Coronary heart, due out in June. “Sorry I am Right here for Somebody Else” performed out with charismatic depth, from the signature backflip that opened the music by means of a humorous interplay with host Quinta Brunson, by means of numerous wails and hip-sways. “Mystical Magical” proved much less profitable, gymnastics apart, however that is extra a byproduct of the music’s drippy lyrics (“moonbeam ice cream,” actually?) than the manufacturing itself.

In all, Boone did what he is carried out in each main televised efficiency thus far: infuse his theatrical power-pop with sufficient try-hard power to energy a small metropolis. On an SNL stage that is been recognized to swallow detached performers, that is a welcome growth.

4. GloRilla, “Yeah Glo!” and “Whatchu Kno About Me”https://www.npr.org/”Let Her Prepare dinner” (1/18/25)

SNL‘s fiftieth season went unusually gentle on rap — the place was Doechii?! — with solely GloRilla to point out for the collection’ milestone season. (Shaboozey and Jelly Roll have fused nation and hip-hop, however that hardly counts on a present that is had little issue attracting Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion and Travis Scott in latest seasons.)

Thankfully for SNL, and for viewers, GloRilla was greater than as much as the problem, delivering a vibrant, movement-rich, smoke-drenched set that stayed forceful and visually compelling, particularly in “Yeah Glo!” Extra stay musicians would have helped — a drummer punctuates “Yeah Glo!” whereas her medley of “Whatchu Kno About Me” and “Let Her Prepare dinner” was carried out over an intrusive backing observe — however GloRilla and her workforce of dancers greater than compensated for his or her absence.

3. Unhealthy Bunny, “NUEVAYoL” and “PERFuMITO NUEVO (feat. RaiNao)” (5/17/25)

Unhealthy Bunny’s two earlier appearances as an SNL musical visitor produced middle-of-the-pack outcomes as these rankings go; although the Puerto Rican megastar’s charisma could not assist however shine by means of, his previous performances have been hampered by poor sound (Season 46) and restricted staging (Season 49). Neither challenge sprang up this time round, as his vocals sounded sharp and on level — although carried out with a backing observe relatively than a band — whereas the visuals felt totally thought of and exquisitely rendered.

For “NUEVAYoL,” Unhealthy Bunny and a workforce of dancers positioned themselves on a facsimile of a metal beam to re-create a basic archival picture — a intelligent manner of evoking New York Metropolis whereas additionally introducing movement inside a compact area. And in “PERFuMITO NUEVO,” Unhealthy Bunny and visitor vocalist RaiNao moved alluringly (and advised a narrative!) by means of a set made as much as resemble a public toilet. Each songs obliterated the restrictions of the Studio 8H stage, whereas taking full benefit of Unhealthy Bunny’s copious charisma.

2. Girl Gaga, “Abracadabra” and “Killah” (3/8/25)

It is a disgrace to must rank this one at No. 2 — consider it extra like No. 1A — as a result of Girl Gaga totally crushed her return to the SNL stage after an eight-and-a-half-year absence. Within the wake of a stretch spent performing, performing jazz requirements and in any other case steering away from maximalist pop, Gaga gave the individuals what they need in each “Abracadabra” and “Killah”: wild choreo, wilder eye contact, bizarre artwork and a welcome willingness to play with the areas she’d been given to work with.

That final half despatched these performances to someplace particular. “Abracadabra” discovered her and a small military of dancers confined to a showily lit field, the place they made a cramped area really feel large. Then, in “Killah,” Gaga led a gleefully odd march by means of SNL‘s nondescript again hallways earlier than finally winding up onstage, on her again, totally spent. She did this whereas pulling double-duty as host, too — a feat of boundless effort within the pursuit of daring artwork.

1. Chappell Roan, “Pink Pony Membership” and “The Giver” (11/2/24)

For her SNL debut, Chappell Roan checked nearly each field possible. Her vocals? Dynamic and in full management, with simply the correct mix of slyness and bombast. Her costuming? Impeccable all through, with nods to each drag (“Pink Pony Membership”) and Hee Haw (“The Giver”). Her band? Crushing it whereas dressed to the nines. The stage manufacturing? Masterful and stunning, with vivid particulars and copious movement. It was all there.

Roan might have simply dialed again the manufacturing after slamming “Pink Pony Membership” out of the park, however her second look made a bit of reports with the world premiere of her first new music since “Good Luck, Babe!” -natured, queer-country, service-top anthem, “The Giver” acquired a grand introduction, full with wonderful outfits, rousing choruses and even a splendidly unusual animated backdrop.

As if she wanted the bonus factors, Roan then spent a piece of the closing credit affectionately holding palms with Bowen Yang, who’d lampooned her — whereas dressed as Moo Deng, no much less — in a Weekend Replace section a month earlier. As debuts go, this one will probably be arduous to prime. But it surely’ll be a thrill to look at her strive.

NOTE: To keep away from having to check apples and oranges, this rating bypasses the overstuffed SNL 50: The Anniversary Particular. However, for the document, the Sabrina Carpenter/Paul Simon efficiency of “Homeward Sure” was a sweetly mismatched cowl of a music first carried out on the present in 1976; Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard lined “Nothing Compares 2 U” capably, with the help of the latter’s ripping guitar solo; Adam Sandler carried out a shaggy, self-referential, often heartfelt comedy ramble known as “50 Years”; Lil Wayne offered a style of what he’d have pulled off had he been booked for the Tremendous Bowl halftime present, backed in a five-song medley (“Uproar,” “Lollipop,” “6 Foot 7 Foot,” “Mrs. Officer” and “A Milli”) by The Roots; and Paul McCartney closed the musical proceedings with a beneficiant, crowd-pleasing medley of Abbey Highway favorites “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The Finish.” All are value revisiting — or testing in the event you skipped the particular — however even they pale compared to the primary six electrifyingly remixed minutes of Questlove‘s must-see music documentary Girls & Gents… 50 Years of SNL Music. (It is streaming on Peacock and it is terrific.)